Welcome to Travel Massive.
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This page contains 5 sections: developer log, member activity, latest posts, upcoming meetups, and classified ads.
Here's 10 things that happened most recently:
Here's the 10 most recent posts:
Thanks to everyone who joined us in Sydney for our [Travel Industry Social with Stripe](www.travelmassive.com/events/sydney-travel-massive-industry-social-with-stripe-1198285481) at [Little National Hotel](littlenationalhotel.com.au/sydney/) in Sydney for an evening of travel industry networking and connections.
We had a great turnout with many new members joining us — including new and established travel media and journalists, tour operators, and travel tech founders. A highlight of the evening was visiting Easey's [rooftop train carriages](www.atlasobscura.com/places/easeys-rooftop-train-car-restaurant). Following decades of service carrying commuters on Melbourne's rail network, the carriages now seat restaurant patrons five stories above ground!
Thanks to [James Lemon](www.travelmassive.com/@james-lemon), Global Lead for Hospitality, Travel & High growth industries at [Stripe](stripe.com/au/industries/travel) for joining us and sharing his insights from last week's Stripe Sessions in San Francisco.
*Want to be part of events like this? Join the [Sydney Travel Massive](hwww.travelmassive.com/posts/sydney-travel-massive-137260029) community to stay updated on upcoming events.*
Thanks to everyone who attended and what a great evening! It was fantastic to meet new members and also catch up with some old friends who have been members for many years. Thanks again to Stripe for continuing to support the Travel Massive community in Australia and helping to keep innovators in the tourism and hospitality industry connected!
Really fantastic seeing everyone, we love the Little National and will be returning in September for another meet up. Our next event is in June, invite coming soon and hope to see you there!
Such a great evening of amazing connections again. Can't wait til the next one!
Hi Travel Massive community,
After months of building behind the scenes, we’re excited to be launching TrvlAtlas — a curated marketplace connecting travellers with premium, story-led experiences across Aotearoa New Zealand.
TrvlAtlas has been built with a simple focus: to showcase the very best local operators, while curating experiences that feel personal, story-led, and deeply connected to place.
We’re starting in New Zealand with a handpicked collection across adventure, nature, and wellness, from Milford Sound and Queenstown to Rotorua and beyond, with plans to expand across Australia and the South Pacific.
👉 We’d love for you to take a look at trvlatlas.com
What’s been most exciting for us is the early support from operators and partners who share this vision:
“We’re working with Nick and TrvlAtlas because we share common values, goals and aspirations. We see this as a partnership or travel community that’s all about making a difference.”
— Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa, Rotorua
"From our first conversations with TrvlAtlas, it was clear they genuinely care about connecting travellers with authentic, locally-led experiences. We chose to partner with them because their vision aligns closely with what we value at Cheeky Kiwi Travel; meaningful connections, responsible tourism, and showcasing destinations in a more authentic way. Their team has been incredibly supportive and collaborative from the start, and we believe TrvlAtlas brings a fresh, much-needed approach to the market by helping travellers discover high-quality experiences without losing the stories and identity behind each operator"
— Cheeky Kiwi Travel
If you're an operator, creator, or partner who aligns with what we're building, feel free to reach out - always open to connecting. Also please follow us on Instagram as we build momentum at instagram.com/@trvlatlas
Thanks for the support as we get TrvlAtlas off the ground!
Nick & Prue
Founders, TrvlAtlas
Congratulations, Nick! It was great to chat to you about this and great choice repping beautiful Aotearoa!
Thanks Casey, really appreciate it. Likewise, great to meet you and love to continue the conversation. Cheers
I've spent years working in Southeast Asian transport operations. I watched thousands of travelers struggle with the same things every day: wrong station names, outdated schedules copy-pasted across a dozen booking sites, fares marked up well above the actual price, and zero support in their language.
So in 2025 I built YesMyTrips from scratch. Solo. Bootstrapped. From Vietnam.
One platform that covers trains, buses and ferries across Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, with schedules you can actually trust, transparent pricing from the start, and a booking flow available in 6 languages: English, French, Russian, Thai, Japanese and Korean.
A few things that make it different:
• The Bangkok–Chiang Mai overnight train is one of the most searched routes in Southeast Asia. Most booking sites still list Hua Lamphong as the departure station. It moved to Krung Thep Aphiwat in January 2023. I obsess over accuracy like that.
• Real-time availability and seat maps let travelers pick exactly where they sit before booking. And if anything goes wrong, there's a real human on WhatsApp, not a contact form.
• I also built a free embeddable train schedule widget that travel bloggers can add to their site in minutes: no iframe, no API key, no cost. It covers 790+ routes and automatically adapts to the language of the host site. A few dozen travel blogs across Europe and Asia are already running it.
I'm based in Ho Chi Minh City, member of EuroCham Vietnam and CCIF. Always happy to connect with travel bloggers, publishers and anyone building in the Southeast Asia transport space.
👉 Try it out at yesmytrips.com and please share your feedback!
sounds great will try it out once I make it there again :)
Thanks Philip! Curious what you're building at manyways.
Nice site—good luck with it. I’ll be in HCMC on Saturday (tomorrow) and if you’re up for an afternoon or evening coffee, let me know. Cheers
Thanks Stuart, would love to grab a coffee. I'm in HCMC, Saturday afternoon works well for me, D1 or wherever's easy for you. I'll DM you my number. Cheers, Max
60% of travelers are using AI search tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Gemini before they ever book — and most travel websites aren't showing up!
At Maya, we built a free AI Search Analysis for travel companies: share your website and get a report showing exactly how visible you are when travelers ask AI for recommendations, and what to do about it.
A one pager to get clarity on where you stand — and a roadmap to get found.
👉 Try it free at mayatravel.ai/free-ai-search-analysis-for-travel-companies
Happy to chat about results too and AI for travel 🎢🌍.
Really impressed by how detailed the report is, I wasn't expecting that depth from a free tool. Will go through it properly this week and see what's actionable on my side.
For reference, my scores came out at 75 / 70 / 80 / 75. Curious what range you typically see across the travel sites you've analysed, is that around average, or are there obvious gaps I should prioritise first?
Thanks for putting this together, Eimy.
Thanks for sharing! Really helpful tool for travel agencies, OTAs, DMCs etc. Already tested it out 👍🏼
Thanks for sharing - I've just downloaded the report. Agree that it's very detailed for a free report, nice work! My only feedback, is that 'loading time' that it takes before and after the email capture. It almost seems like the user has to wait for the report to generate twice? Would also love a 'save as PDF' feature for the report too :). Again, great work, much appreciated for the free tool
Hey Jake, happy to hear you also found it helpful and thanks for the feedback. Will be looking into that 😇
Just tried it, very interesting! It`s a bit more technical than my current skills, but I will read it carefully and pass it to my web developer so we can apply the suggested changes! Thank you for this!
Thanks to everyone who joined us in Melbourne for our [Travel Industry Social with Stripe](www.travelmassive.com/events/melbourne-travel-massive-industry-social-with-stripe-6247391482) at [Easey's rooftop bar](www.easeys.com.au) in Collingwood for an evening of travel industry networking and connections.
We had a great turnout with many new members joining us — including new and established travel media and journalists, tour operators, and travel tech founders. A highlight of the evening was visiting Easey's [rooftop train carriages](www.atlasobscura.com/places/easeys-rooftop-train-car-restaurant). Following decades of service carrying commuters on Melbourne's rail network, the carriages now seat restaurant patrons five stories above ground!
Thanks to [James Lemon](www.travelmassive.com/@james-lemon), Global Lead for Hospitality, Travel & High growth industries at [Stripe](stripe.com/au/industries/travel) for joining us and sharing his insights from last week's Stripe Sessions in San Francisco.
*Want to be part of events like this? Join the [Melbourne Travel Massive](www.travelmassive.com/posts/melbourne-travel-massive-258662400) community to stay updated on upcoming events — and reach out if you’d like to get involved or support a future event.*
Thanks to all our members for coming along (both old and new) and I hope everyone made some new connections in our wonderful travel community here in Melbourne.
A big thanks to Casey (@kckiwigirl) for helping us host the event at Easey's and for connecting our community with new media and journalists in town. And well done to @james-lemon for making it to Melbourne all the way from San Francisco the LONG WAY (via London and Singapore). That may be a record for longest way to get to a meetup.
I loved the graffiti artwork throughout the venue, it reminded me of our old co-working space in Berlin next door to Watergate in Kreuzberg!
PS: There's a Berlin easter egg in the photos... if you can spot it post a comment! 😉
An honour and privilege!! A cool space for an even cooler group of people!
Fab photos! Thank you, everyone, for coming out to play! We're blessed to work in such a wonderful industry.
Great event for connecting with Melbourne-based travel industry shakers and movers.
Lovvveeed meeting you IRL!!
Great to catch up with everyone once again, nice to see so many things happening in the community.
Thanks to @james-lemon, Casey (@kckiwigirl) for organising and a special extra big thanks to @Ian for not posting the photo with me with the stain on my shirt :S
Haha - it was great to meet you!
What an amazing event, and what amazing people attended! Thank you so much for the invite.
It was wonderful to meet you!!!
A traveler recently left us a review that stuck with me. He said the thing he liked most was that he could ask all his questions,- "however silly they may be."
That one line says more about what travelers actually need than any NPS score or star rating ever could.
Because think about it, when was the last time you asked a "silly" question on a 15-person walking tour? You don't. You stay quiet. You google it later. You move on.
That silence isn't a comfort problem. It's a trust problem.
After 10+ years of doing this across 300+ cities, I've realized the real product isn't the itinerary or the destination knowledge. It's creating a space where a grown adult feels safe enough to say "this might be a dumb question, but..."
That's when the real conversation starts. That's when someone asks how much you actually pay for rent here, or whether it's really safe to walk this street at night, or what locals actually think about tourists.
The stuff nobody asks in a group. The stuff that turns a tour into a conversation and a conversation into a memory.
What are you doing in your experiences to build that kind of trust, the kind where people stop filtering themselves?
Hey Vinita,
This really resonates.
I’ve seen the same thing. People don’t hold back because the question is silly, they hold back because they don’t feel comfortable enough.
For me, it starts with keeping things small and informal. No fixed script, no orchestrated conversations, no pressure to “perform.” Just a normal and easy interaction.
When travellers feel like they’re with a real person and not on a tour, they open up.
I also share honestly first. About life, culture, even the uncomfortable bits.
That usually breaks the barrier.
Once they see there’s no judgement, the “silly” questions naturally come out.
Hey Sayali, love this! That's such a powerful trust signal. We've seen the same thing with our locals, the ones who lead with their own honesty tend to get the most open, curious travelers in return. It almost gives people permission to stop being polite and start being real.
Absolutely, that “permission to be real” changes everything.
The moment it shifts from being polite to being honest, the whole experience deepens. People stop observing and actually start engaging.
I’ve also noticed travellers are genuinely curious about personal life.
How we live, think, and go about everyday things. I often indulge that curiosity and share openly, and that usually opens the door for even more honest conversations.
And like you said, when the local shows up as themselves, without a script, it creates that space for travellers to do the same.
When I worked as a tour guide, or when I`m tour leader with my groups, I always try to act like a friend who lives in the destination, sharing personal facts and asking them questions, to make sure they don`t feel like there`s a "rank" and I`m there to boss then around. Connecting on a more open, natural, human scale always helped me make my clients feel at ease and ask whatever they wanted, no matter how silly it was.
Thanks to everyone who joined our [Bangkok Travel Massive Social Evening with Airwallex](www.travelmassive.com/events/bangkok-travel-massive-airwallex-industry-social-1143452093) at [Bar.Yard](instagram.com/bar.yard/) to network and mingle with leading travel brands, creators, and innovators. The event also welcomed attendees from Skift Summit, TDM Summit, MICE Day and TMX Expo taking place in Bangkok on the day.
We were thrilled to welcome one hundred attendees from across the travel industry — with guests making new connections and sharing reflections from the day's events while taking in incredible views of Bangkok's skyline from the 40th floor of Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok's [Bar.Yar rooftop bar](instagram.com/bar.yard/).
The evening brought together a diverse mix of travel industry leaders and innovators from the [Bangkok Travel Massive](www.travelmassive.com/posts/bangkok-travel-massive-309854891) community and international guests, supported by global payments and financial platform [Airwallex](www.airwallex.com/sg/solutions/travel). The evening also provided an opportunity for attendees to meet the team from Airwallex including [Andrew Chim](/@andrew-chim), Head of South East Asia (SEA) and [Ziyan Chong](/@ziyan-chong), Head of GTM & Sales, SEA New Markets.
Representatives from more than 80 companies were in attendance from many global travel brands, including: *Amadeus Hospitality, Six Senses, UNWTO Affiliates, Abercrombie & Kent, MakeMyTrip, S Hotels & Resorts, Centara Hotels & Resorts, CBRE, Plaza Premium Group, Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, EXO Travel, Como Hotels, Kimpton Kitalay Samui, Local Alike, TTG Asia Media*, and [many more](/bangkok-travel-massive-airwallex-industry-social-1143452093).
A massive thank you to everyone who attended and supported the event to make it a great success, and see you at our next travel industry gathering in Bangkok!
— The Bangkok Travel Massive team
👋 Stay connected with travel professionals in Bangkok. Join [Bangkok Travel Massive](www.travelmassive.com/posts/bangkok-travel-massive-309854891) to be notified of upcoming events and connect with other members in the community.
What an incredible turnout! The entire evening was incredibly well organized in a beautiful venue, perfectly timed on a very happening day in travel.
Thanks to everyone who showed up to connect, collaborate, and share ideas. It was a very memorable evening with great conversations and new connections made in the beautiful atmosphere at Bar.Yard flanked by views of Bangkok's skyline and complemented by the fine house wines and local draft beer at the venue.
The venue was amazing, providing the perfect backdrop, and the vibe was amazing as far as networking events go. One of the highlights of the night was the sheer caliber of the attendees!
It was fun to meet everyone
Absolutely Phenomenal Event! Thank you all for arranging a beautiful night! youtube.com/post/Ugkx4aqOTiVlmsuvlM-QwVoVe2wZlup1PU4B?si=WVCevB59SnWaXYA9
Thanks to everyone who joined our [Travel Industry Social at Stripe Sessions 2026](www.travelmassive.com/events/travel-industry-social-at-stripe-sessions-2026-with-stripe-hedna-travel-massive-sf-3075002150) at W Hotel's Living Room Bar in San Francisco last week for a fantastic evening of industry networking.
The event brought together travel tech and hospitality innovators from [San Francisco Bay Area Travel Massive](www.travelmassive.com/posts/san-francisco-bay-area-travel-massive-826956232) and [HEDNA](www.hedna.org) during the week of [Stripe Sessions](stripesessions.com) — Stripe's annual user conference on the future of the internet economy, payments, and AI infrastructure.
In attendance was [James Lemon](/@james-lemon), Stripe's Global Lead for Hospitality, Travel & High growth industries and [Andrew Beckman](/@andrew-beckmann), Head of Travel Industry GTM & Partnerships for North America.
A big thanks to our friends at [HEDNA](www.hedna.org) (Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association) for partnering with Travel Massive, and to the team at [Stripe](stripe.com/au/industries/travel) for supporting our community.
*Want to be part of conversations like this? Join the [San Francisco Bay Area Travel Massive](www.travelmassive.com/posts/san-francisco-bay-area-travel-massive-826956232) community and our [Facebook group](www.facebook.com/groups/sanfranciscotravelmassive) to stay updated on upcoming events — and reach out if you'd like to get involved or support a future event. We'd love to hear from you.*
It was such a pleasure to kick off Stripe Sessions in San Francisco with a mixer at the W Hotel! A huge thank you to all who joined us in the Living Room Bar to network and talk travel tech. Thank you to our sponsors and partners, Stripe and HEDNA, who helped make the evening possible.
You could sponsor or speak at our next event! Speakers, sponsors and hosts, topic ideas — we’re open to all of them! To get involved, please respond to this post or visit the San Francisco Bay Area Travel Massive for more details.
www.travelmassive.com/posts/san-francisco-bay-area-travel-massive-826956232
Great event - so nice to get so many good travel communities and folks in one place!
Hi Travel Massive! I’m Noah, the founder of NAiO.
In almost every other tech sector, we’ve seen a transition from fragmented tools to integrated ecosystems, but not in travel. The nomad economy is next.
We’re building the 'operating system' for this lifestyle because professionals need reliable systems, not just a collection of bookmarks. Currently testing our Beta while on the road in Vietnam! For those of you working at a high level while traveling, how much does administrative friction actually impact your focus? Is a unified platform the inevitable solution?
The Story of NAIO
I’ve been living the nomad life for almost 3 years now, the idea for NAiO came from my own frustration with managing a dozen different platforms and apps just to stay compliant and connected. On any given moving day, I found myself jumping between different tabs: one for a visa checker, another to get information about the place I'm going to, one for housing, one to find a community, etc...
This constant context-switching is what I call a fragmented and frustrating market. It’s not just an annoyance, it’s a killer for the joy of this lifestyle. We are currently spending a lot of our time just managing the logistics of our remote lives instead of actually living them.
We didn’t want to build just another app. We wanted to build a unifying layer - an operating system for the digital nomad economy. Our goal is to consolidate the essential pillars of remote life, into one single, cohesive experience.
How it Works
Instead of providing 100% of these services ourselves, we focus on smart integration. By connecting with top-tier partners for logistics and compliance, NAiO acts as an intelligent concierge.
We are in Beta testing at the moment. Whats ready to be explored:
✅ Smart Tools: Use the Visa- & Expenses Tracker, show your visited countries and deep-dive into destination info for countries and cities.
✅ Services: Book your insurance, tax services, company setups, activities and E-sims
✅ Community: Set up your profile, connect via chat, check the calendar, and join Nomad events with our special discounts.
..much more is coming soon.
Note: We are currently finalizing negotiations with partners for the "Big Two" (Transport and Accommodation) to bring them into the app.
The checkout of the services is not fully integrated yet but we are working on that as well. In the future every service will be fully manageable within the app.
You can explore and register to our Beta here: app.naio.one
We believe that by lowering the administrative barrier to entry, we can make the nomad lifestyle sustainable for more people. We're currently looking for feedback from the community to ensure we’re solving the right frictions first.
Can't wait to get feedback and hear what you think.
Thanks to everybody in advance.
Hi Noah, thanks for joining Travel Massive and sharing your project with our community.
I signed up to NAiO and had a look around. A few questions / comments:
1. Is this built with AI?
2. The big question (that I ask almost everyone I meet building in this space) is how are you going to get users for your app and retain them?
3. Is a website directory of services for nomads no different to them being linked inside of an app? E.g. how does putting it inside an app make it better?
4. Asking to set a password on signup is a bit annoying, I would prefer a pin login or Google auth etc.
That's all I can think of for now. Well done on what you've done so far!
Hi Ian, thanks a lot for taking the time to sign up and for your honest feedback, that’s exactly why I wanted to share NAiO here!
1. Is it built with AI?
I don’t have a background in coding, so I used "Vibecoding" to build the initial visual prototype and demonstrate the vision. Once the concept was clear, I brought a professional developer onto the team. While we used AI for the initial UI/UX and data structuring, everything is now being professionally programmed by our developer to ensure a scalable and robust architecture.
2. Acquisition & Retention
Acquisition: We are currently executing a massive outreach to travel influencers (from micro to large scale). We offer different partnership models, ranging from our affiliate program to "Brand Advisor" roles for those who want skin in the game. We also leverage symbiotic partnerships: Our partners benefit directly as we scale - the more users we onboard, the more customers they receive. It’s a growth flywheel where everyone in the ecosystem wins. Additionally, we are using our own social media channels to drive organic growth through interactive campaigns and community-driven actions.
Retention: It’s about being the Central Hub. By offering an all-in-one ecosystem for things nomads book anyway (transport, activities, e-sims,...), we become the default starting point of their day. We also integrate high-value features like expense- and visa trackers - tools that are usually separate paid apps - directly into our platform for free. We also prioritize deep community engagement and a rapid-response support system to ensure that NAiO becomes a trusted partner for our users.
3. Why an App and not a Directory?
A directory is just a list, we are building a fully integrated booking engine. Our vision is an AI-driven concierge that doesn’t just plan a trip but actually interacts with our partners to propose a complete, personalized itinerary including transport, housing, activities, etc. The user can then adjust and book everything with a single click. We are moving from "searching for info" to "one-click execution" and centralized management of the entire journey. Beyond the integration, a native app provides essential offline access to documents, proactive push notifications for visa or tax deadlines, and a secure vault for encrypted sensitive data - all while serving as a constant psychological 'servicebase' on the user's home screen.
4. The Password Friction
You are 100% right on that. Since we are in the Beta phase and currently operating as a web app, we relied on the Google Password Manager as a temporary workaround. However, as we move toward the official App Store launch, seamless onboarding is a priority on our roadmap.
Thanks again for the "well done" - it motivates us to keep pushing.
I’m happy to answer any further questions you or the community might have. Let’s keep the conversation going!
I tried to search for it in the App Store. Do you have the link for the iOS app?
Hey Andrin,
I’m sorry to tell you that we are not in the AppStore’s yet. Since we are in Beta testing, we just have a WebApp at the moment.
You can have a look here: app.naio.one
Looking forward to your feedback.
As like most things in this life, travel trends are no exception to the ebbs and flows of humanity. What we once understood 'luxurious travel' to mean - five-star hotels, exclusive resorts, and meticulously curated itineraries - is beginning to shift once again, evolving into something new, but oddly familiar.
This shift is emphasizing the hidden 'luxuries' of travel - encouraging us to spend less and experience more, with less hesitation.
As a growing number of travelers shift their focus from VIP exclusives and all-inclusives, and begin to wonder "what else is out there?" they begin to dig deeper within themselves and the world around them in search of more meaningful experiences.
This deep and profound meaning that we all search for is closer than we realize. It can be found in simple conversation, in shared meals, in the unexpected moments that aren't in the itinerary but stay with you long after the trip ends, and much more.
It might look like learning the history of a local bodega in New York City while sharing a hand-crafted bagel, or an open invitation to a local cultural gathering; in these moments, barriers begin to fade and connection takes over. These are the moments that feel rare -not because they are exclusive, but because they are authentic and unfiltered.
In a world that is more digitally connected than ever, there is a growing desire for connection that actually feels human, and travel has become one of the most powerful ways to access that - not by seeing more, but by experiencing more - more integration, more depth, more meaning, more understanding.
This shift is redefining what it means to travel well, luxuriously even.
Luxury, in this new sense, is time spent fully present, the ability to engage with a place beyond the surface. It's leaving not just with photos, but with memories, shifted perspectives, and a sense of connection that wasn't present before.
And perhaps most importantly, this form of luxury is accessible to EVERYONE.
Meaningful connection doesn’t require a money - it requires openness, curiosity, and a willingness to step slightly outside of the usual and into something more personal. In many ways, the most meaningful travel experiences are the simplest ones. They’re just often overlooked.
As travel continues to shift and evolve, so too does our understanding of what makes it truly worthwhile. The destinations remain, but the intentions shift; because in the end, the most memorable journeys aren’t defined by where you stayed - but rather by who you met, how you connected, and how it changed the way you see the world.
Connection, if you ask me, is the most valuable form of luxury we have.
Well said, couldn't agree more! If you have specific eco-resorts that you feel embody what you're saying about human connection and meaningful experiences, we're working on a Simon & Schuster book on the topic and would love your (and the Travel Massive community's) recommendaions!
Hi Anne, thank you so much for reading my post and for responding. I'll be honest - I don't know any eco-resorts. I am a new professional among the travel industry, and my role is in grant writing & development, so this is not something I'm familiar with just yet. However, with the app I work for (Scapade) getting ready to launch this year, I am certain that my knowledge of destinations and resorts will change rapidly through engagement, etc. So, all of that to say; I will gladly keep you on my mind and touch base when I have something to share.
@Anne: Last year I met a GM (would have to dig up the info) who represented a resort near Dumaguete, Philippines. I asked about his sustainability projects and one was called the "Piggy Bank" project where they would provide local families with baby pigs to raise and feed their families later down the line. At the end of the day, sustainability in tourism is not just about jet fuel offsetting by planting trees, but it's about how your presence and money contribute (or don't contribute) to the local communities.
It’s starting to look that way. Travel is faster, smoother, and more curated than ever, genuine connection has become surprisingly rare. Connection is definitley a luxury.
We’ve optimized seamless bookings, packed itineraries, must-see lists that we often leave little room for the unscripted moments where connection actually happens. A real conversation with a stranger, a shared meal that turns into an evening, a place that reveals itself slowly instead of instantly. those experiences don’t fit neatly into a schedule, but they’re the ones that stay with you.
Connection asks for time, presence, and a willingness to be a little uncomfortable or unplanned. And in modern travel, those are the very things we tend to trade away for convenience.
So yes, connection might just be the missing luxury not because it’s expensive, but because it’s becoming rare. And the irony is, it’s also the one thing that makes travel feel truly rich. Back in the day you went to agency got brochures, researched through the pages and is was all discovery. Now you can basically walk a route before you step into the airplane.
Maria, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree with you where you said, "now you can basically walk a route before you step into the airplane." I often find myself getting caught up in 'beating myself to the punch' - travel included. I'll be lost on Google Maps looking at businesses and reviews in the area I'll be traveling to, and I'll forget that 'the adventure awaits in the unexpected' and have to remind myself once I catch myself in the midst of that thought cycle. It's certainly a process and a re-learning of how I want to show up each day and greet the world around me.
This thread resonates, and I'd add one small pushback: in luxury travel at least, connection isn't becoming rarer, it's becoming more intentionally built in. The private dinner with someone whose family has lived in that palace for twelve generations, the guide who grew up in the next village. That's always been the offer - but now clients are asking for it explicitly, rather than stumbling into it.
Maria's point about over-researching rings true. There's something that happens when you've watched every reel of a place before you land... I think the antidote isn't less information, it's the right kind: knowing what a place means rather than what it photographs like.
I work with travellers going to India and the subcontinent, and the thing people talk about afterwards is stuff like the miniature painter in Rajasthan who speaks six languages and talked to them about cricket. Those moments look spontaneous but they're not, someone who knows the place well enough put them in the path.
Marjorie's example from the Philippines is great too. Connection that actually shifts something for the community rather than just the traveller. That's the version worth building toward! :)
HERE'S THE NEXT 5 UPCOMING EVENTS:
Hello Toronto Travel Massive community,
Please join us on May 14, 2026 for an exciting GigSky event. GigSky is a leading eSIM provider that solves one of travelers' biggest annoyances: staying connected while abroad without paying a fortune. GigSky would love to share some trends in data roaming, what customers use their phones for while away, and the next phase of their global partnership with Visa.
This event is for: Travel media and creators (journalists, reporters, bloggers, creators, influencers, YouTubers, podcasters) and travel advisors.
About GigSky
GigSky is the original eSIM travel data company and was a launch partner when Apple first unveiled this technology in 2018. As a mobile operator, GigSky provides travelers with unparalleled access across the globe (in over 200 countries and regions), at sea (on over 350 cruise ships and ferries), and in-flight (on over 22 airlines). Their global partnership with Visa also provides over 4 billion Visa cardholders worldwide with complimentary and discounted data as a card benefit. Learn more on www.gigsky.com.
⏰ Schedule of activities:
6:00 PM: Arrival and networking
7:30 PM: Presentation
8:15 PM: Giveaway winners announced
8:30 PM: Event ends
🎁 GigSky giveaway:
Win a $100 GigSky eSIM credit for your next international trip ✈️
Tell us where you’re taking your GigSky eSIM by sharing an Instagram story OR an IG feed post any time before 8 PM on May 14, 2026. Make sure to tag and follow @travelmassiveTO and @gigsky.esim + use hashtags #TravelMassiveToronto
T&C: The winner must be physically present at the event on May 14, 2026 to receive the reward.
💬 Join the conversation:
Travel Massive:
Instagram: @travelmassiveTO #TravelMassiveToronto for Travel Massive
GigSky:
Instagram: @gigsky.esim | Facebook: @GigSky
Youtube: www.youtube.com/@GigSky
🎟️ Event registration: there is a maximum capacity, so make sure to register. If there is a waitlist still sign-up in case someone is no longer able to come we will add people from the waitlist. In the meantime, please have a look at your Travel Massive profile and take a moment to make sure it is up to date.
👉 Please note:
* All guests must be registered to attend.
* Attendees must have completed profile to register, including a photo, bio, and links.
* No +1s please.
* Must be an active member of the travel industry to attend with an approved and updated profile on TravelMassive.com.
Make sure to describe what your role is in the travel industry and add associated social media and website links.
👉 Cancellations: If you are no longer able to attend, please try to release your ticket 48 hrs (2 days) before the event so others can attend. Thank you for understanding.
🚨As these events are limited capacity we have a 3-strike no show policy.
📸 This event will be photographed by a member of a Travel Massive team or/and our event partner.
Land acknowledgment
We wish to acknowledge the Ancestral Traditional Territories of the Ojibway, the Anishnabe and, in particular, the Mississauga’s of the New Credit whose territories we gather on. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties.
Link to event pageBuilding better human connections all over the world.
IMEX Frankfurt is where the global meetings, events and incentive travel industry comes together annually for the largest trade show of its kind in Europe.
Where 4,500-plus global meeting planners connect with 3,100 suppliers from across the world, building powerful working relationships—to create better events, meetings and experiences.
This is where you can walk through the world in a day, immerse yourself in the latest industry developments and ideas, and find yourself at the heart of the global business events community.
Talking Point: Design Matters
In 2026–2027, we’re making Design Matters our Talking Point. Because good design isn’t just good business—it’s how things work, feel and change us.
Design is the ultimate differentiator. It’s design that helps organizations, brands and events stand out and be remembered. So, we’re inviting the global events industry to embrace design as a business superpower. Because it matters.
Learn more at frankfurt.imexevents.com
Link to event pageLet's get ready for Summer and kick it off in style with an LA Travel Meetup.
Travel Massive, Travel With Meaning, and Wanderful will be the co-hosts for this event — meet with travel industry professionals, creators and like-minded travelers for a social evening at one of LA's best wine bars.
Join us to connect with with travel change-makers, hospitality brands, creators, and innovators reshaping the future of travel and tourism.
🍷 Venue: Offhand Wine Bar
📍 Location: 3008 Santa Monica Blvd , Santa Monica, CA 90404 (maps.app.goo.gl/Rp8WN3Vpj3dvdzPR7)
🗓️ Date: Tuesday, 19 May 2026
🕕 Time: 5:00pm - 8pm
👉 Spaces are limited, RSVP is essential
Street parking available, ride share encouraged!
Let’s toast to new journeys, great conversations, and unforgettable travel inspiration.
— See you soon!
Link to event pageWe’re excited to announce our next Edinburgh TravelTech meetup on 20th May, featuring an interactive session in collaboration with 80 Days.
Following the hugely popular session on Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) last year, this session will explore how the AI search landscape has continued to evolve and what that means for travel and tourism businesses looking to stay visible.
From AI Overviews and search agents to the increasingly non-linear traveller journey, we’ll cut through the noise and focus on what really matters. Expect practical, actionable strategies to help you get found in the age of AI-driven search, along with plenty of opportunity to ask questions and take part in the discussion.
Whether you joined us last time or are completely new to the topic, this session is designed to give you clear insights you can apply straight away.
Link to event pageMaximizing Content Opportunities During FIFA World Cup Games in Toronto.
Hello Toronto Travel Massive community,
FIFA World Cup 2026™ is more than a tournament; it’s a once-in-a-generation moment for Toronto. For Destination Toronto and its local creator community, the games present an opportunity to garner unprecedented global attention, attract diverse audiences, and take advantage of a massive surge in real-time digital engagement.
Game on, Toronto! is your backstage pass to making the most of it. Join industry insiders and top creators as they break down how to capture the energy, diversity, and global buzz of the city in real time - turning fleeting match-day moments into powerful, lasting content. You’ll walk away with practical strategies for navigating rights and brand alignment, plus insider tips on creating content that performs. Whether you’re looking to grow your audience, elevate your storytelling, or tap into the massive digital wave surrounding the games, this session will show you how to position yourself - and Toronto - at the centre of it all.
After the panel, join us for food, drinks, games and prizes to kick-off the soccer celebration!
This event is for: ACTIVE Travel media and creators (journalists, reporters, bloggers, creators, influencers, YouTubers, podcasters) and travel advisors.
Always join the waitlist.
About Destination Toronto
Toronto’s visitor economy is a vital economic engine for the city, with a record 28.2 million visitors generating over $9 billion in visitor spending in 2025. Destination Toronto’s purpose is to ignite the city’s visitor economy to enrich and empower its communities. Operating in partnership with the City of Toronto and the tourism and hospitality community, Destination Toronto promotes the city to attract visitors and major meetings and events, and supports local businesses in maximizing the opportunities of the visitor economy. For more information, please visit DestinationToronto.com.
⏰ Schedule of activities:
6:00 PM: Arrival
6:15 PM: Welcome and fireside chat
7:00 PM: Group migration to The National for sips, bites, and bowling
8:00 PM: Prize pack raffle
8:30 PM: Event ends
Fireside chat speakers:
Panel Moderator: Lauren Jerome (she/her)
Senior Content Manager, Creative Marketing, Destination Toronto
IG: @destination_toronto | LI: @lauren-jerome | www.destinationtoronto.com
Lauren Jerome is the Senior Content Manager, Creative Marketing at Destination Toronto, where she leads content strategy for major campaigns—including ongoing work with the City of Toronto on FIFA World Cup 2026.
With a background spanning editorial and agency, she brings a strong mix of storytelling instincts and platform-savvy thinking. Lauren is especially interested in the intersection of travel, events, and creator culture—and how real-time moments can be turned into content that connects.
Panellist: Will Tang (he/him)
Content Creator, Destination Toronto Ambassador
IG: @goingawesomeplaces | goingawesomeplaces.com | www.youtube.com/goingawesomeplaces
Will, formerly a Toronto Travel Massive Chapter Leader, is the content creator behind Going Awesome Places, an award-winning travel brand that focuses on outdoor adventure and experiential travel through his website, YouTube channel, and social media. He's also an ambassador for Destination Toronto with a huge passion for his home city teams and all things sports and outdoors.
Panellist: Marissa Anwar (she/her)
Content Creator, Destination Toronto Ambassador
IG: @Marissa.Anwar
Marissa Anwar is an award-winning writer, producer, and marketing executive with a career spanning travel media, tourism, and tech. The creator of Darling Escapes and a producer at DEMG, she has developed content and campaigns for some of the world's most recognized tourism brands and brings a sharp digital perspective to destination storytelling.
A former social strategist at Lonely Planet and proud Toronto native, Marissa serves as a Destination Toronto Social Ambassador, championing her city to audiences around the globe.
Panelist: Enrique Miguel Baniqued
Film producer
IG @enriquemiguel_ | explorerscontent.com
Enrique Miguel Baniqued is a Filipino-Canadian film and digital content producer based in Toronto. With a background in business and film production, he works across narrative and branded content with a global perspective.
In 2025, Enrique became the youngest producer nominated for a Canadian Academy Award for VILLAGE KEEPER, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and was released theatrically nationwide. Alongside his narrative work, he has captured on-the-ground content during major global events, including FIFA-related activations, and produced branded content for organizations such as Destination Toronto, NBA, NHL, UFC, Family Feud Canada, the JUNOS and more.
⏰ Event giveaway:
Prize 1 & 2: FIFA toque, FIFA tote, FIFA mini soccer ball, and FIFA water bottle.
Grand Prize: FIFA toque, FIFA tote, FIFA mini soccer ball, FIFA water bottle, FIFA full size soccer ball, Two tickets to the Toronto Tempo Sept 20 game against the New York Liberty in Destination Toronto's private suite
T&C: The winner must be physically present at the event on May 20, 2026 to receive the reward.
👏 Venue partners:
Wellington Event Venue
The Well sets the stage for meaningful experiences that draw people from near and far to Eat, Shop, Work, Live and Play. Designed for community engagement, the Wellington Event Venue boasts 5,038 sq. ft. of a dynamic space nestled within Wellington Market on the Lower Ground level.
‣ thewelltoronto.com/directory/wellington-event-venue/
‣ thewelltoronto.com
National at the Well
National offers best-in-class beer, incredible cocktails & a thoughtfully curated food menu alongside a full-service bowling alley and arcade.
💬 Join the conversation:
• Travel Massive: @travelmassiveTO #TravelMassiveToronto
• Destination Toronto: IG: @destination_toronto | TT: @destinationtoronto | FB: @destinationtoronto #SeeTorontoNow
• Wellington Event Venue at The Well: @thewell_to
• National at the Well: IG: @ntnltoronto | FB: National Toronto | TT: @ntnltoronto
🎟️ Event registration: there is a maximum capacity, so make sure to register. If there is a waitlist still sign-up in case someone is no longer able to come we will add people from the waitlist. In the meantime, please have a look at your Travel Massive profile and take a moment to make sure it is up to date.
👉 Please note:
* All guests must be registered to attend.
* Attendees must have completed profile to register, including a photo, bio, and links.
* No +1s please.
* Must be an active member of the travel industry to attend with an approved and updated profile on TravelMassive.com.
👉 Cancellations:
If you are no longer able to attend, please try to release your ticket 48 hrs (2 days) before the event so others can attend. Thank you for understanding.
🚨As these events are limited capacity we have a 3-strike no show policy.
📸 This event will be photographed by a member of a Travel Massive team or/and our event partner.
Land acknowledgment: We wish to acknowledge the Ancestral Traditional Territories of the Ojibway, the Anishnabe and, in particular, the Mississauga’s of the New Credit whose territories we gather on. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties.
Link to event pageA Travel Massive London evening of neon, gin, and game-changing ideas in Walthamstow.
The most interesting things in travel rarely happen in the most obvious places. So this time, neither do we.
Join Travel Massive for an unforgettable evening designed for travel industry leaders and influencers who want more than the usual central London networking circuit. We’re heading to Walthamstow where creativity, community, and new ideas collide.
The Experience:
This isn’t one venue. It’s a journey.
🪩 Stop 1: A Neon Wonderland
We kick things off at God’s Own Junkyard; a legendary, immersive space where vintage neon signs glow, art meets chaos, and conversation starts instantly. Drinks in hand, surrounded by electric colour, this is your first signal that tonight will be different.
🍸 Stop 2: London’s Best Gin Bar
Next, we head to Mother’s Ruin Gin Palace — named Time Out’s #1 gin bar in London. Expect exceptional drinks, a buzzing atmosphere, and the kind of relaxed setting where introductions turn into real connections.
❤️ Stop 3: Where Travel Gets Personal
Then for something truly special.
We step inside a Walthamstow home - an intimate setting for meaningful conversation to discover Hoppswap.
Hoppswap is reimagining how we travel:
• A global home-swapping community built on trust and shared interests.
• Discover local lives to swap into and match with people in 100+ cities.
• A way to travel more, spend less, and feel at home anywhere.
This is travel stripped back to what really matters: people, connection, and belonging.
Ready to experience a different side of London and a different kind of travel event?
Join us in Walthamstow. 👉 Reserve your place now (spaces are limited).
📍 Location: Starting at God's Own Junkyard: Ravenswood Industrial Estate Shernhall St, London E17 9HQ
🗓️ Date: Thursday, 21st May 2026
🕕 Time: Meet between 18:00 - 18:30. Finished by 21:30.
✅ Advance RSVP Required
A few more details...
Getting there: It takes an average of 16 minutes to travel from London Liverpool Street to Walthamstow Central by train. With the fastest services taking just 14 minutes.
Heading out after: And we'll probably end the evening The Raglan as featured in Time Outs top 50 pubs in London.
Questions about this event? Please email your event host: Matthew Gardiner, Director of Travel Massive London: matthew@travelmassive.com
Please note: when you register for this event (which must be done in advance) we will also be sharing your details with Hoppswap to facilitate the evening. There will also be photography at the event.
Link to event pageHere's the 10 latest classified ads:
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